Syrian family's long wait for Canadian status not over
Hisham Wattar has been working to get his family to Canada for 2 years
As the crisis in Syria deepens and tragedies mount, Canada's refugee policies and processes are coming under fire.
Hisham Wattar has been working with Steve Moore and the Canyon Heights Church to get his family into Canada from Egypt for the past two years and yet says it will take several more years to get them into the country.
"We did receive a letter in August informing us that within 42 months they'll be coming to Canada...it was quite discouraging to hear," said Steve Moore, the pastor of Canyon Heights.
Wattar's sister, his two nieces and two of his niece's children, fled Syria in 2012 and have been living in Cairo ever since.
The church was told they could sponsor the family under the sponsorship agreement holder program back in June.
This means they have been pre-approved to work directly with the government, but Moore says that hasn't made a difference.
Aside from supporting the entire family, the church and Wattar are financially sponsoring the family, for a total cost of $48,000.
"There is no cost for the federal government at all," Wattar said.
They say that they have taken all the necessary steps, including paperwork, background checks, and assurances that the family will have aid in securing schooling, work, and doctor's appointments.
"We are playing with all the government regulations and rules that they told us to do and yet, where is the government facilitating?" said Wattar.
Although everything seems to be in order, they have not received any explanation as to why it will take so long.
Wattar approached Andrew Saxton, his local MP in North Vancouver, to ask him to bring the situation to the attention of Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, but hasn't received much of a response.
"There is no other explanation other than 'we are working on it,'" Wattar said.
The family is stuck in Cairo. They can't work and the children are struggling integrating into the school system.
His youngest niece is 27. Wattar says she is so frustrated with her current status she has considered fleeing Egypt as so many others have.
Her family has convinced her to stay, but Wattar says that it is hard to explain to his family that although their application is approved, they must wait another three years.
To hear the full interview, click: B.C. man trying to sponsor Syrian relatives as refugees
With Files from Kirk Williams